Page 13 of On Her Terms

“I want to keep fucking you.”

I turn and grip the counter at his bold statement. “Last night was a one-time thing, Luca. And like I said, I don’t date the same guy twice.”

“Last night was a date?”

“Last night was sex, or rather ‘fucking’ as you put it.”

He grins. “Really good fucking.”

“Yeah, really good, and I never screw the same guy twice, unless it’s Mr. Right,” I say and wonder why I’m telling him any of this.

His eyes search mine, and my stomach clenches with desire. “Mr. Right?”

“My battery-operated boyfriend.”

He laughs at that, but it quickly morphs into something else. “You probably shouldn’t have told me that. Now I’m going to want to see you use it.”

Holy God, did he really just say he wanted to see me pleasure myself? “Not going to happen.”

I make my way to the door, and he’s hot on my heels, his closeness heating up my body again. My nipples quiver, and the juncture between my legs begs me to take him up on his offer. But I can’t. I don’t want to get involved with this man. I don’t even like him.

He reaches past me and opens the door, and his bare chest brushes over my back. “Enjoy Mr. Right, but if you decide you miss the real thing, you know where to find me.”

Heat rips through me just that easily, and I clear my throat. “It was nice meeting you, Luca.”

“You too, Brianna,” he says, drawing out my name.

With that I step outside, close the door behind me and nearly melt to the ground in a puddle of need. But no matter how my body reacts, no way, no how am I stepping foot in his chalet again.

I don’t think.

CHAPTER SIX

Luca

DUSK FALLS OVER the village as I make my way down a long cobblestone path leading to the main bar, Diamond Peak, where I plan to grab a much-needed drink with Tate—maybe two. I spent most of the day going over some work I brought with me, and thinking about what happened last night. I never meant to go down that path with a woman who could make me forget all about my obligations. A woman who doesn’t believe in marriage or even second dates. It’s a shame, really. I might not be able to have her long-term, but I’d hate to see her go through life without ever finding love.

A fresh strip of anger curls through me as I think about the stipulations placed on me. What I’d like to do is rip up my father’s will and stomp it into the ground, but if I do and the conglomerates go to my cousin, we could lose everything. I have my mother to think about, not to mention all the things I want to do for my people once I take my rightful place.

This morning I should have run the other way instead of telling Brianna I wanted to continue sleeping with her. But now that I’ve gotten a taste of her, I w

ant more. I want to keep her in my bed until I have to go back to Italy. Hell, maybe a week in her bed will help me forget her once and for all. I can only hope, because once I step into my position as duke, I can’t be with her. As I think about that, I wonder what Brianna would make of it all. Most think the Italian nobility are nothing but a joke, thanks to some of Marco’s over-the-top playboy antics. They’ve gotten worse in recent years.

I glance around the bar in search of Tate. Tonight it’s just the two of us, and we plan to kick back and down a few brews to celebrate the last of his bachelorhood. I step into the bar where I once worked as a bartender and nod to Henry, the aging manager who should have retired ages ago. He waves back, and I make my way over to him.

“How’s life treating you, Luca?” he asks.

“Good, I’m enjoying New York.”

“Sure do miss you working back here with me. Hard to get good help these days.” He pours me a draft and slides it across the counter.

I take a sip. “Perfect as always.” He smiles at that. “How’s Marion?”

He smiles when I mention his wife. “She’s good. Still nagging me to retire.”

“Maybe it’s time to take her on that American vacation she’s been wanting,” I suggest with a raised brow.

He winks at me. “It’s in the works.”

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